Synonyms of dallied

dallied

verb

past tense of dally

1

as in played

to engage in activity for amusement

he spent his college years dallying, seemingly determined to acquire as little knowledge as possible

Synonyms & Similar Words

• played
• toyed
• frolicked
• entertained
• recreated
• rollicked
• joked
• sported
• amused
• disported
• relaxed
• cavorted
• dabbled
• gamboled
• romped
• skylarked
• trifled
• delighted
• pleased
• rested
• dawdled
• frisked
• teased
• diverted
• loafed
• idled
• jested
• puttered (around)
• fiddled (around)
• hung
• slacked (off)
• screwed around
• lounged (around or about)
• bummed (around)
• messed around
• hung about
• goldbricked

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• worked
• labored
• toiled
• struggled
• plodded
• strove
• slaved
• strained
• plugged (away)
• sweat
• drudged

2

as in lingered

to move or act slowly

don't dally on the way to the interview

Synonyms & Similar Words

• lingered
• delayed
• dragged
• poked
• crawled
• strolled
• dawdled
• loitered
• crept
• played
• tarried
• diddled
• lollygagged
• lagged
• stalled
• fell behind
• shuffled
• dropped behind
• lounged
• marked time
• hung fire
• moped
• dillydallied
• idled
• loafed
• trifled
• staggered
• sauntered
• ambled
• shilly-shallied
• dragged one's feet
• took one's time
• puttered (around)
• procrastinated
• fiddled (around)
• temporized
• inched
• pottered (around)
• lolled
• lumbered
• plodded
• fooled around
• hung (around or out)
• eased
• decelerated
• slowed (down or up)
• messed around
• monkeyed (around)
• filibustered

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• hurried
• raced
• rushed
• ran
• hastened
• flew
• scurried
• sped
• dashed
• scooted
• bolted
• whirled
• scudded
• whisked
• tore
• darted
• whizzed
• zipped
• rocketed
• ripped
• hustled
• scrambled
• coursed
• hurtled
• barreled
• breezed
• trotted
• ran
• stampeded
• bowled
• galloped
• humped
• sprinted
• jogged
• careered
• accelerated
• hotfooted (it)
• quickened
• overtook
• sped (up)
• outstripped
• caught up
• outpaced
• outran
• fast-forwarded

3

as in flirted

to show a sexual attraction for someone just for fun

she spent the summer dallying with a guy renting the neighboring beach house

Synonyms & Similar Words

• flirted
• coquetted
• toyed
• trifled
• frivoled
• wooed
• courted
• vamped
• messed around
• teased
• razzed
• kidded
• fooled
• ribbed
• joshed
• played (with)
• mashed
• strung along
• led on
• put on
• manipulated

4

as in dawdled

to spend time doing nothing

I kept dallying at my desk until I couldn't put off doing my work any longer

Synonyms & Similar Words

• dawdled
• lounged
• loafed
• lazed
• idled
• strolled
• lazied
• droned
• played
• rested
• poked
• chilled
• relaxed
• lolled
• bummed
• hacked (around)
• lingered
• dillydallied
• hung (around or out)
• kicked back
• goofed (off)
• killed time
• mucked
• messed
• hung about
• footled
• monkeyed
• loitered
• trifled
• piddled
• twiddled one's thumbs
• fooled
• vegged out
• sauntered
• kicked around
• ambled
• dozed
• puttered (around)
• hibernated
• tarried
• moseyed
• fiddled (around)
• swanned
• pottered (around)
• lagged
• estivated
• malingered
• truanted
• furloughed
• goldbricked

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• toiled
• labored
• worked
• plodded
• plowed
• hustled
• ground
• plugged
• pegged
• slaved
• humped
• applied
• grubbed
• sweat
• drudged
• travailed
• buckled (down)
• exerted
• moiled
• put out

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of dallied

Furthermore, Real Madrid has also dallied over potentially buying Enzo Fernandez from Chelsea. — Tom Sanderson, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026

The full-backs, meanwhile, took their time from throw-ins, ensuring team-mates behind the ball were secure and Emiliano Martinez, who produced a second spellbinding save in as many visits to Nottingham, dallied from goal kicks. — Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 1 May 2026